DoT wants telcos to give up entire 900 MHz band in 2014
18 Oct 2012 11:59 PM GMT
In a move that is being widely opposed by the industry, Telecom Commission, the highest decision making body of Department of Telecom [DoT], on Wednesday recommended existing operators surrendering the entire spectrum in 900 MHz band at the time of their licence renewal in 2014.
‘The entire spectrum in 900 MHz will be refarmed,’ telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar said.
He said three different options were put before the commission, which included refarming [or redistribution of airwaves held by existing players] of all airwaves held by incumbents, or allowing the operators to retain either 2.5 Mhz or 5 Mhz of airwaves frequencies in 900 Mhz band.
‘The commission decided that entire spectrum will be refarmed which means above 0 [Mhz],’ Chandrashekhar said.
The recommendations of the commission will now be put before the empowered group of ministers [EGoM]Â headed by finance minister P Chidambaram for a final decision.
The EGoM is likely to meet on Thursday.
Chandrashekhar said the existing operators will be allowed to bid in the auction of 900 MHz band, which is likely to take place in the first half of 2013. If they are successful, they can retain the spectrum, he said.
However, if the incumbents fail to win the spectrum, they will be given 18 months to move to 1800 MHz for which an equivalent amount of spectrum will be made available for them in the new band.
‘...if the same operator succeeds, he will retain it, if a new person succeeds, than the existing operator has 18 months to make his alternative plans and the new operator will have 18 months to put his infrastructure in place before he gets the spectrum,’ Chandrashekhar said.  Â
‘The entire spectrum in 900 MHz will be refarmed,’ telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar said.
He said three different options were put before the commission, which included refarming [or redistribution of airwaves held by existing players] of all airwaves held by incumbents, or allowing the operators to retain either 2.5 Mhz or 5 Mhz of airwaves frequencies in 900 Mhz band.
‘The commission decided that entire spectrum will be refarmed which means above 0 [Mhz],’ Chandrashekhar said.
The recommendations of the commission will now be put before the empowered group of ministers [EGoM]Â headed by finance minister P Chidambaram for a final decision.
The EGoM is likely to meet on Thursday.
Chandrashekhar said the existing operators will be allowed to bid in the auction of 900 MHz band, which is likely to take place in the first half of 2013. If they are successful, they can retain the spectrum, he said.
However, if the incumbents fail to win the spectrum, they will be given 18 months to move to 1800 MHz for which an equivalent amount of spectrum will be made available for them in the new band.
‘...if the same operator succeeds, he will retain it, if a new person succeeds, than the existing operator has 18 months to make his alternative plans and the new operator will have 18 months to put his infrastructure in place before he gets the spectrum,’ Chandrashekhar said.  Â
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